Nitrogen and phosphorus management on Dutch dairy farms: legislation and strategies employed to meet the regulations |
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Authors: | J J Neeteson |
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Institution: | (1) Plant Research International, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands, NL |
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Abstract: | The high input of nutrients through the use of fertilizers, manure and animal feed make it possible to reach high levels
of agricultural production. However, high nutrient inputs may also result in large nutrient losses and thus have adverse effects
on groundwater, surface water, and the atmosphere. To minimize nutrient emissions from agriculture, the Dutch government has
introduced regulations on nutrient use. These include: (1) a ban on spreading animal manure on agricultural land during the
winter, (2) the obligation to cover storage facilities for animal manure, (3) compulsory low-emission applications of animal
manure to land, and (4) applying levies when the maximum permissible annual N and P surpluses for farms are exceeded. The
nutrient surplus is the difference between nutrient input into the farm and nutrient output from the farm. The maximum permissible
N surpluses for 2000 are 250 kg N ha–1 year–1 and 125 kg N ha–1 year–1 for grassland and arable land, respectively, and for P, 35 kg P2O5 ha–1 year–1 for both grassland and arable land. When the annual permissible levels are exceeded, farmers are charged with a levy. Results
obtained at the experimental dairy farm "De Marke" showed that a reduction in nutrient inputs via fertilizers and purchased
food, in combination with restricted grazing, reduced the N surplus in such a way that the NO3
– concentration in the groundwater decreased to about the maximum permissible level of 50 mg NO3
– l–1. Since these results were obtained on a sandy soil that is very sensitive to NO3
– leaching, it is suggested that all dairy farmers should be able to sufficiently reduce NO3
– leaching by improving their farm management.
Received: 13 July 1999 |
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Keywords: | Nitrogen management Phosphorus management Nutrient-management legislation Nitrate leaching Dairy farms |
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